Robbers gang continues looting spree in Shalley Valley

Islamabad - While no body among the police top bosses is seemed in mood of taking action against the five-member gang of robbers, the gang kept continuing the looting spree in Shalley Valley without any fear and hindrance.

The gang of robbers have been operating and targeting the residents within limits of Police Station (PS) Westridge while office of SP Potohar Division is also located a few yards away from Shalley Valley.

In the night fall between Saturday and Sunday, the five-member gang armed with daggers and pistols stuck into a house (located Street 2 of Lane 4) of Raja Iftikhar and tried to break the gate to commit robbery, reliable sources and area people informed The Nation on Monday.

On the noise, sources said, the inmates of the house waked up and opened firing on the robbers. The robbers also retaliated. However, the robbers run away without looting anything from the house, sources said.

“The fresh attempt of robbery has created a wave of panic and fear among the residents,” said wife of a retired brigadier, wishing anonymity. She said that upon calling a senior police officer visited the area and publicly refused to provide protection to the locals, saying Police Station Westridge had not enough force to patrol or guard the residents of Shalley Valley. “The locals themselves should make their security arrangements,” she quoted the senior police officer as saying.

An eyewitness told The Nation that police were called in by the locals which rushed to the scene and combed the area but failed to trace any robber. He said that the residents have been making hue and cry on looting spree of five-member gang but police were not taking action against the robbers.

Safraz Ahmed, another local, said that he twice visited the office of SP Potohar Division Muhammad Ateeq Tahir for lodging complaint against the unabated house robberies but SP was not present in his office. “Neither SP meets us in his office nor he responds our phone calls,” he said in angry tone. He demanded Regional Police Officer (RPO) to take strict action against SP Potohar and SHO Police Station Westridge for not stopping house robberies in the area.

Talking to The Nation, SHO Police Station Westridge confirmed the attempt of failed house robbery by five gang members. He said that robbers tried to break the door of house of Raja Iftikhar but could not steal anything. He said that he immediately reached the crime scene and resorted aerial firing to create sense of security among the locals. He said that efforts were underway to trace out the robbers. As usual, SP Potohar Muhammad Ateeq Tahir did not attend his cell phone to offer his comments over Daku Raaj right under his nose.